The Carbine Rifle, is a rifle that has been featured in every GTA game since Grand Theft Auto III, except Grand Theft Auto Advance. It is useful in almost any situation, boasting accuracy, power and magazine capacity. Throughout the games, the models differ slightly, along with zoom capability, rate of fire, and stopping power. The Carbine Rifle is considered to be the second most powerful assault rifle in the GTA series after the AK-47 (except in GTA V).

Contents

Design and Performance

3D Universe

GTA III's rendition resembles the Armalite AR-10. This version differs from any other variant for how powerful it is: Featuring an exceptionally high rate of fire and an unrealistic 60 round magazine, it is always a one shot kill against any enemy in any part of the body and can easily destroy most vehicles with a few bursts, making it arguably the most powerful firearm in the game. One might even compare it to the minigun or the M-60 seen in later games. Yet, despite its power, the Carbine Rifle in GTA III suffers from wild and near uncontrollable recoil.

Vice City's rifle is modeled after the Colt 733, but called 'M4' in-game (Which is historically inaccurate, as the M4 was not introduced until 1994). Originally, the beta featured an assault rifle that resembled an M16A2, but it was later replaced by the current model. It also appears to have an aftermarket crane stock. The beta rifle's model can still be found in the game files and can be seen in the intro cutscene. It's a much less powerful rifle than its GTA III predecessor, and despite still being a one-shot kill at most occasions, it now features a slower rate of fire and a 30-round magazine. The recoil is also much lower this time around, making it useful for more precise shots.

San Andreas reuses the model from Vice City, again called 'M4' in-game (And again inaccurate since the game is set in 1992). This version has a low rate of fire that is unusual for the rifle, but it is still highly effective, featuring a 50-round STANAG magazine. In the mission Stowaway, a government agent is shown holding a camouflaged variant of a Colt M16A1. This however, is never available to use in-game. This was probably a beta model.

In Liberty City Stories, it is truly modeled after the M4A1 and named M4 correctly. The rifle mostly remains the same since San Andreas, only having an increased rate of fire and slightly more power this time around.

Vice City Stories features a rifle resembling the M16A1, named 'Assault Rifle' in-game. It uses a similar model from the previously mentioned San Andreas mission Stowaway, sans the camouflage. Lance Vance refers to a rifle as an "M4" during a mission, which is an anachronism.

HD Universe

GTA IV features a rifle based on the Colt M4A1, titled 'Carbine Rifle' in-game. This version is accurate both in timeline and overall features, including accurate weapon specs such as rate of fire, magazine size and appearance. Interestingly, the carry handle has been replaced with a Picatinny rail, along with an aftermarket drum sight mounted to it. It has the longest range of any non-sniper weapon in the game. It also has "Property Of Liberty City Arms" stamped where the magazine release is normally found, probably a reference to the "Property Of U.S. Govt" stamped on its real-life counterpart. Performance wise, the Carbine Rifle is stellar. Accuracy and fire rate are both high, along with damage. It is highly effective in close to mid range, with accuracy dropping off at long range. Accuracy is even higher when crouched, allowing the player to fire it on fully automatic while being able to reliably hit targets.

GTA Chinatown's rendition is difficult to identify, but it is has a full stock and long barrel, and the triangular hand guard as seen on the HUD suggests it is based on the Colt M16A1, also similar to the receiver receiver box ACR Bushmaster. It has tremendous power and a fifty round magazine.

The Carbine Rifle returns in Grand Theft Auto V, this time seemingly inspired by the LR-300 assault rifle and the Heckler and Koch HK416 . This rifle is unlocked for purchase after the first heist mission. It's superior all-round to SMGs, and is more accurate but less powerful than the Advanced Rifle.

Customizations

In Grand Theft Auto V and Grand Theft Auto Online, the Carbine Rifle can be customized with various attachments and tints by visiting an Ammu-nation store.

Rounds & magazine

GTA V

GTA Online (Unlock)

Rounds (60)

$36

$108

Default clip (30 rounds)

Default

Default (Rank 42)

Extended clip (60 rounds)

$262

$?

Attachments

Grip (more stability, slightly increases accuracy)

$330

$?

Flashlight (provides ilumination when aiming)

$375

$?

Scope (mid-range zoom, slightly increases accuracy)

$1125

$?

Suppressor (silences but slightly reduces damage and range)

$2037

$?

Tints

Black

Default

Default (Rank 42)

Army

N/A

$5000 (Kill 100 players)

Green

N/A

$7500 (Kill 200 players)

Orange

$100

$? (Kill 400 players)

LSPD

$600

$5750 (Kill 600 players)

Pink

N/A

$7500 (Rank 50)

Gold

N/A

$10000 (Rank 75)

Platinum

N/A

$12500 (Rank 100)

In-Game Appearances

Spoiler Warning:Plot and/or ending details are in the text which follows.

In GTA IV, the Carbine Rifle is given during Three Leaf Clover and is available to purchase afterwards. Niko uses it during the Ballad of Gay Tony mission, Ladies Half Price, provided if players choose to go back to the ambush and kill him and Packie. NOOSE Officers will attack the player if they have a wanted level of three stars or higher.

Locations

GTA III

Bedford Point, Staunton Island - In the walled off area in the southeast part of the Liberty Tree Offices, where the mission Kingdom Come takes place. (Use the nearby Moonbeam, park it by the lowest part of the wall, climb the Moonbeam, and jump over the wall to access).

GTA IV

It can be purchased from the back-alley gun shops for $5,000 and each additional magazine will cost $100. It can be purchased from Little Jacob for $3,500 with each additional magazine costing $70. The Carbine Rifle can also be acquired from NOOSE Tactical Response Unit Officers, FIB Agents and certain LCPD Officers, specifically those who guard places of high security such as The Statue of Happiness.

GTA V

GTA Online

Alternatively it can be obtained for free by going to the Army Base and killing members of the military, or by visiting the airport in South Los Santos from some police officers (To keep the rifle after leaving a lobby you are required to be level 42, as if you don't meet that requirement you will lose it once you leave).

Spawns at waves 4+ during a Survival, and common among enemies at higher levels.

Trivia

In the Playstation 2 version of GTA III, the M16 has a green aiming cursor, but in the PC, Xbox and mobile versions of the game, the green cursor is replaced by a circle and a dot.

Strangely, the M4 in GTA IV has two reload animations. When Niko is standing while reloading, he will pull the charging handle, but when crouching while reloading, he takes "out" the magazine, puts "another" in and pulls the charging handle. There is no confirmed reason for why there are two reload animations, but it is speculated that it is for balancing reasons, as the player is much more effective while crouched. This oddity is also present on the AK-47 and the Assault Shotgun.

In GTA IV, the bottom of the Carbine Rifle's magazine is stamped with the words "Stop Chillin Start Killin".

There is an artwork of Michael holding an M4 CQBR with an M68 CCO red dot sight and sound supressor. However said weapon never appears in-game.

The GTA V version of this weapon appears to be based around a DDM4 Upper receiver.

In GTA V, when customized with a scope attachment, the iron sights are not removed or flipped down; this is highly impractical as the iron sights would obstruct the viewing field of the scope. This is most likely an oversight by Rockstar.

Adding the suppressor to the Carbine Rifle in GTA V seems to convert the barrel into an integral suppressor.

The name "Carbine Rifle" contradicts itself, as a carbine and a rifle are separate types of firearms and are mutually exclusive. A Carbine is a firearm with a shorter barrel than a musket or rifle in order to be lighter and easier to handle.